KEEMO PAUL STARS IN KINGSMEN WIN OVER PATRIOTS

Keemo Paul’s superb all-round performance propelled Jamaica Kingsmen to their second win of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Tuesday night at Sabina Park, beating St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 51 runs. Paul first starred with the bat scoring a blistering 65 from 36 deliveries, smashing 5 fours and 6 sixes before picking up 3-for-30 off his 4 overs with the ball.

Kingsmen sent into bat, found themselves in an instant spot of bother at 0-for-2 after Saurabh Netravalkar removed Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty both for ducks in the first over. Reeza Hendricks and Usman Khan set about repairing the innings before Wanindu Hasaranga removed both in consecutive overs to leave Kingsmen at 54-for-4 in the eight over. This brought captain Rovman Powell and Keemo Paul together at the crease, the pair put on a rescuing act sharing in a 99-run 5th wicket partnership, Paul 65 and Powell 49 to push the total to 181-for-6 off 20 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga’s 2-for-36 and Saurabh Netravalkar 2-for-43 the pick of the bowlers.

In reply, the Patriots innings never gained any momentum, falling to 31-for-3 in the 5th and 42-for-3 at the end of the power play. Kevin Wickham with a top score of 37 showed some resistance to Kingsmen bowling attack, but this did little to change the outcome as the Patriots lost wickets at regular interval. They eventually folded for 130 in eighteen overs, Keemo Paul the main destroyer with 3-for-30, Andre Russell chipped in with 2-for-19 to complete back-to-back wins for the Kingsmen.

With the win Kingsmen moved from the foot of the table to second place on 4 points behind Barbados Tridents on net run rate.

Player of the match Keemo Paul is happy to be contributing with the bat, “I think lately I've been getting some runs for the team, you know. We were in a bit of a situation, and the coach gave me a role. But all in all, I was very pleased with my batting tonight. Well, look, the coach has backed me. He told me that if we were in a situation in any game, I was going to bat early. And he backed me to play the reverse sweep.”

Meanwhile, Powell was a happy camper at the end of their home leg “To be honest, it means everything. You know, it's been a rocky start to the campaign, so it's good to get back-to-back victories. Credit has to be given to the guys who stuck through the tough times. You know, it's not over, but they stuck through the tough times and they're reaping the rewards now.”